Electric charging control device

1. An electric charging control device, comprising an electric charging control CPU whose electric power is supplied from an auxiliary battery which has a lower voltage than that of a main battery, for serially connecting with respect to an upper-level control device which performs centralized control of an automotive electrical power conversion apparatus, and for constituting the automotive electrical power conversion apparatus, the automotive electrical power conversion apparatus including an inverter for supplying electric power of three-phase alternating-current voltages to a vehicle driving motor from the main battery mounted aboard an automotive vehicle, a pair of main electric contactors connected between the main battery and the inverter at an upstream position thereof and a downstream position thereof, and an electric motor control device operating with respect to the inverter, and including a pair of electric charging contactors whose one ends each are connected with respect to an upstream power-supply point and a downstream power-supply point which are connected to an electric charging plug provided for an electric charging power-source apparatus being a ground-based device, and whose other ends being an upstream midpoint and a downstream midpoint are connected in series with the pair of main electric contactors, the electric charging control device for performing open-circuit and close-circuit control on at least one of the pair of main electric contactors and the pair of electric charging contactors, wherein: the upper-level control device further comprises an upper-level control CPU for performing mutual monitoring, via a communications circuit, between the electric charging power-source apparatus, an electric motor control CPU mounted on the electric motor control device, an electric charging instruction device for driving to close-circuit the pair of electric charging contactors, and the electric charging control CPU for driving the pair of main electric contactors, and for performing communications of a control signal therebetween; the electric charging control CPU is connected to a first voltage monitoring circuit connected between the upstream power-supply point and the downstream power-supply point or the downstream midpoint, for producing a first voltage detection signal, and to a second voltage monitoring circuit connected between the downstream power-supply point and the upstream power-supply point or the upstream midpoint, for producing a second voltage detection signal; the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit produce the first voltage detection signal being a determination logic signal responding to a presence or an absence of a monitored voltage and the second voltage detection signal being a determination logic signal responding to the presence or the absence of the monitored voltage, respectively, and, when the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit are connected between the upstream power-supply point and the downstream power-supply point, a voltage monitoring circuitry is made by at least one from among the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit, or made by both thereof; the inverter further comprises a voltage-level detection circuit for determining whether or not a main power-source voltage of a high voltage is applied from the main battery, and for producing one from among a main voltage detection signal being a determination logic signal and a determination-voltage detection signal by way of the electric motor control CPU by producing a voltage-level detection signal thereto; the upper-level control CPU comprises a control program constituting of a main contactor abnormality detection routine executed in cooperation with the electric charging control CPU, a first electric charging contactor abnormality detection routine executed in a state in which the pair of main electric contactors is close-circuited under a condition that the electric charging plug is not connected, and a second electric charging contactor abnormality detection routine executed in a state in which the pair of main electric contactors is open-circuited under a condition that the electric charging plug is connected and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power-source apparatus; the main contactor abnormality detection routine distinguishably determines a presence or an absence of a welding abnormality of a main electric contactor among the pair of main electric contactors or a contact defect thereof on a one-by-one basis, in a non-connection state of the electric charging plug, corresponding to a combination state of a drive instruction with respect to the pair of main electric contactors, and corresponding to a detection logic of the main voltage detection signal or the determination-voltage detection signal; the first electric charging contactor abnormality detection routine distinguishably determines the presence or the absence of the welding abnormality of an electric charging contactor among the pair of electric charging contactors or a contact defect thereof on a one-by-one basis corresponding to a combination state of a drive instruction with respect to the pair of electric charging contactors, and corresponding to a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal and that of the second voltage detection signal; the second electric charging contactor abnormality detection routine includes a detected-voltage abnormality determination routine for determining whether or not a generated voltage of the electric charging power-source apparatus detected by the voltage-level detection circuit is within a predetermined threshold-value range being set in advance, or comprises a routine for distinguishably determining the presence or the absence of the welding abnormality of an electric charging contactor among the pair of electric charging contactors, or a contact defect thereof on a one-by-one basis corresponding to at least a combination state of a drive instruction with respect to the pair of electric charging contactors, and a detection logic of the main voltage detection signal, or a detection logic of the first voltage detection signal and that of the second voltage detection signal; a plug cover configured to be mounted on a plug-in entrance of the electric charging plug; and based on the welding abnormality not being detected in the pair of main electric contactors and the pair of electric charging contactors, the plug cover is released while the electric charging plug is not inserted and one pair from among the pair of main electric contactors and the pair of electric charging contactors is configured not to be driven for close-circuiting, and, based on the welding abnormality being detected in any one contactor of pair of main electric contactors and the pair of electric charging contactors, a close-circuit instruction is prohibited with respect to at least another pair from among the pair of main electric contactors and the pair of electric charging contactors.

2. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said voltage monitoring circuitry redundantly comprises the first voltage monitoring circuit connected between the upstream power-supply point and the downstream power-supply point, for producing the first voltage detection signal, and the second voltage monitoring circuit connected therebetween, for producing the second voltage detection signal; and the upper-level control CPU further executes the control program to perform a detection-circuit abnormality determination routine executed in cooperation with the electric charging control CPU, wherein the detection-circuit abnormality determination routine compares, in a first power-supply state in which the electric charging plug is not inserted and the pair of main electric contactors is close-circuited, or in a second power-supply state in which the pair of main electric contactors is open-circuited and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power-source apparatus after the electric charging plug is inserted, determination results at three points with one another by means of the main voltage detection signal, and the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal, each related to a presence or an absence of a respective point's detection voltage in accordance with the pair of electric charging contactors which is together open-circuited and then close-circuited; the detection-circuit abnormality determination routine determines that the voltage-level detection circuit is abnormal, when the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal both indicate presences of voltage detection and when the main voltage detection signal indicates an absence of voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal both indicate absences of voltage detection and when the main voltage detection signal indicates a presence of voltage detection; and a close-locking mechanism operates to prohibit releasing the plug cover to be open, or at least an open-caution notification means is provided, when the welding abnormality of a main electric contactor is detected by the main contactor abnormality detection routine.

3. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein a positive-side input terminal of the first voltage monitoring circuit is connected to the upstream power-supply point by way of a first upstream connection line, and a negative-side input terminal thereof is connected to the downstream power-supply point by way of a first downstream connection line; a positive-side input terminal of the second voltage monitoring circuit is connected to the upstream power-supply point via a second upstream connection line, and a negative-side input terminal thereof is connected to the downstream power-supply point via a second downstream connection line; one end of the first upstream connection line and one end of the second upstream connection line are inputted into a first comparator circuit via respective positive-side connection capacitors; one end of the first downstream connection line and one end of the second downstream connection line are inputted into a second comparator circuit via respective negative-side connection capacitors; a first high-frequency signal voltage and a second high-frequency signal voltage are applied to a positive-side input terminal of the first comparator circuit and that of the second comparator circuit via a first oscillator circuit and a second oscillator circuit, respectively; with respect to a short-circuit state in which, under a normal operating condition, the positive-side input terminal of the first comparator circuit and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other via one of said respective positive-side connection capacitors, the first upstream connection line, the second upstream connection line and the other of said respective positive-side connection capacitors, a first disconnection detection signal is produced when the short-circuit state between the positive-side input terminal of the first comparator circuit and the negative-side input terminal thereof is disengaged because the first upstream connection line or the second upstream connection line is disconnected; and, with respect to a short-circuit state in which, under a normal operating condition, the positive-side input terminal of the second comparator circuit and the negative-side input terminal thereof are short-circuited to each other via one of said respective negative-side connection capacitors, the first downstream connection line, the second downstream connection line and the other of said respective negative-side connection capacitors, a second disconnection detection signal is produced when the short-circuit state between the positive-side input terminal of the second comparator circuit and the negative-side input terminal thereof is disengaged because the first downstream connection line or the second downstream connection line is disconnected.

4. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the voltage-level detection circuit is utilized in place of at least one of the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit; the generated voltage of the electric charging power-source apparatus is detected by the voltage-level detection circuit, when the electric charging plug is inserted; and a voltage abnormality determination processing means is comprised in which, in cooperation between the upper-level control CPU and the electric charging control CPU, determination is made whether or not the generated voltage of the electric charging power-source apparatus is within a range of a predetermined setting threshold-value voltage being set in advance, and a close-circuit drive of the pair of electric charging contactors is prohibited, when the generated voltage of the electric charging power-source apparatus is abnormal.

5. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the voltage-level detection circuit is utilized in place of at least one of the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit; the generated voltage of the electric charging power-source apparatus is detected by the voltage-level detection circuit, when the electric charging plug is inserted; and a voltage abnormality determination processing means is comprised in which, in cooperation between the upper-level control CPU and the electric charging control CPU, determination is made whether or not the generated voltage of the electric charging power-source apparatus is within a range of a predetermined setting threshold-value voltage being set in advance, and a close-circuit drive of the pair of electric charging contactors is prohibited, when the generated voltage of the electric charging power-source apparatus is abnormal.

6. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said voltage monitoring circuitry comprises the first voltage monitoring circuit connected between the upstream power-supply point and the downstream midpoint in a crossing manner with respect to the second voltage monitoring circuit, for producing the first voltage detection signal, and the second voltage monitoring circuit connected between the downstream power-supply point and the upstream midpoint in a crossing manner with respect to the first voltage monitoring circuit, for producing the second voltage detection signal; and the upper-level control CPU further executes the control program to perform a detection-circuit abnormality determination routine executed in cooperation with the electric charging control CPU, wherein the detection-circuit abnormality determination routine compares, in a first power-supply state in which the electric charging plug is not inserted and the pair of main electric contactors is close-circuited, or in a second power-supply state in which the pair of main electric contactors is open-circuited and electric power is supplied from the electric charging power-source apparatus after the electric charging plug is inserted, determination results at three points with one another by means of the determination-voltage detection signal or the main voltage detection signal, and the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal, each related to a presence or absence of a respective point's detection voltage in accordance with the pair of electric charging contactors which is together open-circuited and then close-circuited; the detection-circuit abnormality determination routine determines that the voltage-level detection circuit is abnormal, when the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal both indicate presences of voltage detection and when the determination-voltage detection signal or the main voltage detection signal indicates an absence of voltage detection, or when the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal both indicate absences of voltage detection and when the determination-voltage detection signal or the main voltage detection signal indicates a presence of voltage detection; and a close-locking mechanism operates to prohibit releasing the plug cover to be open, or at least an open-caution notification means is provided, when the welding abnormality of the main electric contactor or an electric charging contactor is detected by the main contactor abnormality detection routine or the first electric charging contactor abnormality detection routine, respectively.

7. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit each comprise a plurality of series connected current-limiting resistors and a constant-voltage diode which are connected between a positive power-source line subjected to monitoring and a negative power-source line subjected thereto, wherein a light-emitting diode of a reception photocoupler is connected through a series resistor and in parallel with respect to the constant-voltage diode, and a smoothing capacitor is connected in parallel with the light-emitting diode or to the constant-voltage diode; and the first voltage detection signal or the second voltage detection signal is produced by a transistor output of the reception photocoupler.

8. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first voltage monitoring circuit and the second voltage monitoring circuit each comprise a plurality of series connected current-limiting resistors, a constant-voltage diode and a transmission photocoupler which are connected between a positive power-source line subjected to monitoring and a negative power-source line subjected thereto, wherein a light-emitting diode of a reception photocoupler is connected through a series resistor and in parallel with respect to the constant-voltage diode, and a smoothing capacitor is connected in parallel with the light-emitting diode or to the constant-voltage diode; the transmission photocoupler is driven to switch on by a first reference signal or a second reference signal in which the electric charging control CPU produces, when voltage monitoring is performed thereby; and the first voltage detection signal or the second voltage detection signal is produced by a transistor output of the reception photocoupler.

9. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the voltage-level detection circuit comprises a circuit for producing any one of the main voltage detection signal, the first voltage detection signal and the second voltage detection signal, and the voltage-level detection signal, or comprises a circuit for producing only the voltage-level detection signal which is inputted into the electric motor control CPU or the electric charging control CPU where the electric motor control CPU or the electric charging control CPU produces digital data of a currently going value of a detected voltage, so that a presence or absence of the detected voltage is determined by comparing the digital data with a predetermined threshold value being set in advance, and that the determination-voltage detection signal is obtained; and the voltage-level detection signal is made as an analog signal voltage which is proportional to the detected voltage, or as a pulse signal voltage whose pulse duty or pulse period changes in response to the detected voltage.

10. The electric charging control device as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the voltage-level detection circuit comprises a comparison circuit to which a stable power-source voltage is applied by means of a plurality of series connected current-limiting resistors and a constant-voltage circuit including a constant-voltage diode which are connected between a positive power-source line subjected to detection and a negative power-source line thereto, and further comprises an intermittent control transistor, an electric charging reactor and a smoothing capacitor connected in series with one another, and the plurality of series connected current-limiting resistors connected in series therewith, which are connected between the positive power-source line and the negative power-source line, wherein the smoothing capacitor is connected in parallel with a series-connected circuit constituting of a light-emitting diode of a reception photocoupler and of an electrical discharge resistor, or with the electrical discharge resistor, and with negative feedback voltage-divider resistors; a voltage generated downstream of the negative feedback voltage-divider resistors and a voltage generated downstream of voltage-divider resistors with respect to a stable power-source voltage applied to comparison input terminals of the comparison circuit, so that, by means of a comparison output thereof, the intermittent control transistor is intermittently controlled, and a negative feedback control is performed so that an electric charging voltage of the smoothing capacitor is in a relationship proportional to a stable power-source voltage; a light-emitting diode of an intermittent reception photocoupler is connected between an interconnection point of the intermittent control transistor and the electric charging reactor, and the negative power-source line being a negative side of the constant-voltage circuit; the light-emitting diode of the intermittent reception photocoupler is a light-emitting diode which produces, in a switch-off time-period of the intermittent control transistor, the voltage-level detection signal being a pulse signal voltage in such a manner that an induced current of the electric charging reactor flows back by way of the smoothing capacitor, so that a conduction duty or conduction period being a ratio of a switch-on time-period of the voltage-level detection signal to a switch-on/switch-off period thereof changes in response to a currently going voltage between the positive power-source line and the negative power-source line; and said main voltage detection signal is produced, when the reception photocoupler is included, by a transistor output thereof.